NHS Handbook

The Principal | The Chapter Adviser | The Faculty Council | Role of Faculty Advisor | Membership | Obligations of Membership | Prerequisite Conditions for Selection | The Criteria | Scholarship | Leadership | Service | Character | Student Activity Information Forms | Faculty Evaluation Forms | Notification of Inductees | Reapplication for Membership | Appeals in Cases of Non-selection


THE PRINCIPAL

The principal has the right to approve all activities and decisions of the chapter. This authority extends to selection and dismissal of members. The principal cannot serve as chapter adviser and is not a member of the voting Faculty Council. The principal shall receive appeals in cases of non-selection of candidates, and the disciplining or dismissal of members. The principal appoints and works closely with the chapter adviser and the Faculty Council to develop and follow fair selection and dismissal procedures consistent with the Constitution.


THE CHAPTER ADVISOR

The chapter adviser shall be a member of the faculty of the school where the chapter is located. The chapter adviser should be a faculty member who has faith in the abilities of young people and who is willing to spend time with them to develop their potential. The adviser is familiar with the Handbook and has a working knowledge of Society policies, as well as those of the school and school district. The adviser promotes chapter activities, stimulates positive actions by members, and provides information on local and national policies regulating chapter activities. The chapter adviser shall be an ex-officio, non-voting, sixth member of the Faculty Council.  Neither principals nor assistant principals may serve as chapter advisers.


THE FACULTY COUNCIL

The adviser works with the Faculty council in selecting, disciplining, or dismissing members. The Faculty council shall consist of five voting faculty members, appointed annually by the principal. No principal or assistant principal may be on the Faculty Council. The adviser and the Faculty Council cooperate in developing and periodically reviewing all local selection and dismissal procedures and guidelines. Chapter members should have the opportunity to comment on these procedures, and the members' recommendations should be considered in procedure formulation and review. It is important that all members of the Faculty Council recognize that they are working on behalf of the faculty of the school. All judgments reached by members of the Faculty Council should, therefore, be both sound and professional in nature.  It is vital that Faculty Council members be fully knowledgeable of the guidelines for their chapter, and that they carefully follow all stated guidelines and procedures in all aspects of the chapter's activity.


ROLE OF FACULTY ADVISOR IN THE MEETINGS OF THE FACULTY COUNCIL

Since the principal cannot serve as a member or even an observer of the Faculty council's deliberations, the faculty adviser takes on the responsibility of representing the administrative offices of the school.  In this role, the adviser serves in two capacities:  the supervisor who ensures that proper procedures are being followed, and as the advocate who protects the interests of the student(s). As supervisor, the adviser first makes sure that both the national and local guidelines for procedure are being followed.  A total familiarity with the local procedures and the national handbook are required, or at least having written versions of both available for quick reference.  In addition, a vital role of the faculty adviser is to see that the Faculty Council avoids the “gossip, hearsay, and rumor” which must be avoided when considering the case of any individual student. To do this, the adviser serves as a facilitator of the discussions, keeping the council focused on objective data used to review each case. A thorough accounting of all information being used in the collection of data or facts for each student is one of the primary responsibilities of the adviser.  Whether for selection or disciplinary consideration, the faculty adviser also serves to guarantee that each student receives a fair review. Though a member of the school's faculty, the adviser must assume the role of the student's defender to guarantee that only relevant and valid information is brought under consideration by members of the Faculty Council.


MEMBERSHIP

Membership in the National Honor Society is both an honor and a responsibility. Students selected for membership are expected to continue to demonstrate the qualities of scholarship, service, leadership, and character. A candidate for membership must first be selected by the Faculty Council and then inducted in a special ceremony to become an active member of the chapter. Active members have a voice and vote in chapter affairs. Active members are expected to maintain the standards of the society by which they were selected. They also assume certain obligations, as detailed in the information provided by the chapter, which must be fulfilled according to the chapter guidelines.


OBLIGATIONS OF MEMBERSHIP

The national constitution defines several obligations for members.  First, all members are to maintain the standards by which they were selected. In addition, the constitution expects members to attend meetings if called for, and to perform both individual and chapter service projects during the year.


SELECTION PROCEDURES

Selection to NHS is a privilege, not a right. Students do not apply for membership in the National Honor Society; instead, they provide information to be used by the local selection committee to support their candidacy for membership. Membership is granted only to those students selected by the Faculty Council in each school. This is not an election, nor is membership automatically conveyed simply because a student has achieved a specified level of academic performance. NHS is more than just an honor roll and the extent to which the local chapter emphasizes the other components of the selection
process (leadership, service, and character) should be carefully included in the selection process. The selection process must be public information, available to parents, students, and faculty upon request. Proper dissemination of information about the chapter, particularly details concerning the selection process used at the school, will help prevent problems with students or parents who may wish to question the process.


PREREQUISITE CONDITIONS FOR SELECTION

1. According to the Constitution, only those students who have attended the school the equivalent of one semester may be considered for membership. This period is necessary for students to establish themselves and for the faculty to get to know them.
2. Membership is open to qualified juniors and seniors.
3. Academic requirements must be the same for all candidates in all classes. All candidates must have a GPA of 3.5 or higher.
4. There can be no specific quota or percentage of members per class. Those students who meet the criteria should be inducted regardless of the number. If it is necessary to limit chapter size, the academic requirement for all candidates can be raised.


THE CRITERIA

The Faculty Council of the chapter selects students who demonstrate outstanding performance in all four criteria of scholarship, leadership, service, and character. The Faculty Council should first identify students with the prerequisite GPA and then evaluate the candidates' performance in the areas of leadership, service, and character. While the academic criterion is important and should be considered first, membership should never be considered on the basis of grades alone, even though a Faculty Council may consider scholarship as the most important of the four criteria. In evaluating potential members for leadership, service, and character, the Faculty Council should begin with a review of the definitions of these criteria. These definitions should also appear in the public description of the selection process.


SCHOLARSHIP

The scholarship requirement is based on a student's cumulative grade point average. The minimum GPA allowable in the Sterling High School Chapter of NHS is a 3.50. All students who meets this requirement are then eligible for consideration on the basis of service, leadership, and character.


LEADERSHIP

The leadership criterion is considered highly important for membership selection. Some Faculty Councils may wish to interpret leadership in terms of number of offices a student has held in school or community organizations, although it is important to recognize that leadership also exists outside elected positions including effective participation in other co-curricular activities offered on campus. Leadership roles in both the school and community may be considered, provided they can be verified. The student who exercises leadership:  is resourceful in proposing new problems, applying principles, and making suggestions; demonstrates initiative in promoting school activities; exercises positive influence on peers in upholding school ideals; contributes ideas that improve the civic life of the school; is able to delegate responsibilities; exemplifies positive attitudes; inspires positive behavior in others; demonstrates academic initiative; successfully holds school offices or positions of responsibility; conducts business effectively and efficiently; demonstrates reliability and dependability; is a leader in the classroom, at work, and in other school or community activities; is thoroughly dependable in any responsibility accepted; and is willing to uphold scholarship and maintain a loyal school attitude.


SERVICE

Service is generally considered to be those actions undertaken by the student which are done with or on behalf of others without any direct financial or material compensation to the individual performing the service. In considering service, the contributions this candidate has made to school, classmates, and community, as well as the student's attitude toward service can be reviewed. The student who serves:  volunteers and provides dependable and well organized assistance, is gladly available, and is willing to sacrifice to offer assistance; works well with others and is willing to take on difficult or inconspicuous responsibilities; cheerfully and enthusiastically renders any requested service to the school; is willing to represent the class or school in inter-class and inter-scholastic competition; does committee and staff work without complaint; participates in some activity outside of school, for example, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, church groups, volunteer service for the elderly, poor, or disadvantaged; mentors persons in the community or students at other schools; and shows courtesy by assisting visitors, teachers, and students. Candidates will need at least 10 hours of community service to be considered for membership.


CHARACTER

Character is probably the most difficult criterion to define. The Faculty Council should consider the positive as well as the negative aspects of character. All judgments in this and other selection criteria should be free of speculation and rumor. National Honor Society is a member of the Character Counts! Coalition. Through this activity, the society supports and recommends the use of a multi-faceted definition of character known as the “Six Pillars of Character.” A person of character demonstrates the following six qualities:  respect, responsibility, trustworthiness, fairness, caring, and citizenship. In addition, it can also be said that the student of character:  takes criticism willingly and accepts recommendations graciously; Consistently exemplifies desirable qualities of behavior (cheerfulness, friendliness, poise, stability); upholds principles of morality and ethics; cooperates by complying with school regulations concerning property, programs, office halls, etc.; demonstrates the highest standards of honesty and reliability; regularly shows courtesy, concern, and respect for others; observes instructions and rules, is punctual, and faithful both inside and outside the classroom; has powers of concentration, self-discipline, and sustained attention as shown by perseverance and application to studies; manifests truthfulness in acknowledging obedience to rules, avoiding cheating in written work, and showing unwillingness to profit by the mistakes of others; and actively helps rid the school of bad influences or environment.


STUDENT ACTIVITY INFORMATION FORMS

In order to ascertain the degree to which a student candidate meets the selection criteria, the Faculty Council will utilize a Student Activity Information Form. The form will help the Faculty Council to obtain information directly from the student regarding leadership and service activities and to elaborate on the student's perspectives concerning the honor society and its values. The forms should not be considered under any circumstances as applications for membership. The form exists to support the student's candidacy by providing relevant information for use by the Faculty Council.


FACULTY EVALUATION FORMS

Selection for membership to the chapter is always to be by a majority vote of the Faculty Council. However, the local council members may obtain information to assist them in making their decision. A faculty evaluation may be used to support the strength of a student's candidacy in the areas of service, leadership, and character.  In the event of a low rating on one of the evaluations, it is always important to verify the reasons for such a rating, avoiding “speculation and rumor.” Evaluations bring to the attention of the Faculty Council information that may not otherwise be represented on the information forms. Upon reviewing the evaluations, and verifying their accuracy, the Faculty Council is still required to undertake a vote on each candidate, selecting each student who receives a majority vote. All evaluations will be signed, and each evaluator must be prepared to support any below-average rating with substantiating data based on sound professional judgment and action. The local adviser serves as the link between the
Faculty Council and the evaluators, and may conduct informal interviews with those teachers who provide the below-average ratings. Faculty evaluations are considered working documents to assist the Faculty Council in making sound decisions regarding membership. Such evaluations are expected to be used only by the Faculty Council, the adviser, and the principal and should be considered confidential.


NOTIFICATION OF INDUCTEES

Those students selected will be notified by the chapter adviser or principal. Students not selected will also be informed.


REAPPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP

Membership in the National Honor Society is a permanent condition unless a student's performance falls below the standards by which he or she was selected. To this end, chapters may not ask members to reapply on a yearly basis. An active member becomes a graduate member upon graduation from high school. Only if a student is dismissed or resigns is the student's membership in the honor society ever to be curtailed.


APPEALS IN CASES OF NON-SELECTION

Chapters are not legally or constitutionally obligated to share with parents and students information concerning specific students not selected for membership in the Society. It is, however, a common expectation of school personnel to be able to explain how decisions regarding the growth and development of a students on campus were made and, furthermore, to provide effective direction to such students to assist them in reaching their goals, despite the existence of a specific setback. Since the chapter adviser is closest to the selection process, it is this individual who is best prepared to provide immediate feedback. Should students or parents still not be satisfied, the next level of discussion should take place with the principal. Following this discussion, if the principal feels that some kind of technical or procedural mistake has been made, the principal may ask the Faculty Council to reconvene to review the situation. Technical or procedural errors might include the inadvertent omission of a student's name from the list of those qualified for induction, the erroneous averaging of grades, or failure to follow prescribed procedures. Parents and students must understand that no student has a right to be selected for membership in a chapter of the National Honor Society.  Reconsideration of a Faculty Council's decision must be a rare occurrence if the council is to be expected to take its assignment seriously.  It is important to uphold the integrity of NHS standards and to recognize the potential danger of yielding to pressure tactics. If a non-selected student or his/her parents wish to challenge the principal's decision they should follow the local school system's complaint procedure.