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.