Kappa Omicron Nu: Empowering Leaders in Scholarship, Research, and Leadership

1. Mission • The mission of Kappa Omicron Nu is empowered leaders in scholarship, research, and leadership. • This mission will enable the organization and chapters to prepare scholars and researchers as leaders for the 21st century.

2. Benefits of Membership • Scholarship, fellowships, and grants • Internship scholarships • A National network of colleagues • Participation in a learning community to broaden horizons • Subscript to Dialogue, a substantive newsletter and to FORUM, a refereed scholarly journal • Knowledge transfer – leadership knowledge, training, and skills • Local and national leadership opportunities • Graduate Program Showcase – directory of institutions and programs • Publication opportunities • Preference for Federal Jobs – Entry at GS-7 level if all other requirements are met – Enter KON membership on application

3. Responsibilities of Membership • Support the mission of Kappa Omicron Nu. • Contribute to the general welfare of the membership and the organization through participation in activities of the chapter. • Maintain ethical standards of behavior.

4. History • Established February 21, 1990 by the consolidation of Kappa Omicron Phi and Omicron Nu. • Omicron Nu was founded in 1912 at Michigan State University. • Kappa Omicron Phi was founded in 1922 at Northwest Missouri State University. • Kappa Omicron Nu is a member of the Association of College Honor Societies.

5. Possible Local Chapter Activities re: Scholarship • Award Chapter Scholarship (national guidelines). • Publicize names of initiates. • Conduct at least one Required Program (national options). • Integrate academic and co-curricular goals. • Conduct panel discussion on graduate school.

6. Possible Chapter Activities re: Research • Conduct Research Fair of graduate and undergraduate research. • Encourage undergraduate research. • Conduct educational programs re: research skills.

7. Possible Chapter Activitiesre: Leadership • Conduct officer training for chapter officers. • Conduct chapter program on professional growth and leadership. • Conduct series of workshops on Reflective Human Action (leadership theory). • Conduct program on cultural diversity. • Conduct program on mentoring.

8. Possible Chapter Activities re: Ethics • Collaborate with unit administrators and faculty and/or other honor societies on campus to determine ways to promote ethics on campus • Engage in a dialogue between student groups regarding ethical issues • Increase knowledge of and appreciation for professional codes of ethics • Use KON activities: Ethics: Gripe & Glee, Ethical Dilemmas, and Ethics:101

9. Program Guidelines • Select at least one of the Required Program options and other topics that focus on scholarship, research, and/or leadership in addition to the initiation ceremony that focuses substantively on those topics. Quality, not quantity, rules. • Membership participation in needs assessment, goal setting, action planning, and collaborative implementation. • Annual review of chapter activities to evaluate chapter effectiveness.

10. National Governance • Conclave – Biennial Meeting of Assembly of Delegates to suggest national ends and to provide leadership and professional development for student and alumni delegates. • Leadership and Undergraduate Research Conference in alternate years with Conclave. • Board of Directors – Four or five professional directors and three student directors. • National Committees.

11. Local Governance • Chapter Officers – President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Editor, and more if desired. • Chapter Executive Committee. • Committees. • Chapter Bylaws. • Adviser(s).

12. Scholarships, Fellowships, Grants • Scholar Program – Biennial grant to chapters based on sliding scale of initiates. • Delegate Scholarships. • Master’s Fellowships. • Doctoral Fellowships. • Adviser’s Scholarship for Conclave. • Research/Project Grants.

13. Awards • Chapter Award of Excellence. • Adviser Award of Excellence. • Program Award – Kids & Careers in Human Sciences. • Program Award – A Matter of Ethics. • Undergraduate Student Research Papers. • Coordinating Council of Honor Societies Undergraduate Student Research Paper. • AAFCS/CCHS Undergraduate Student Posters. • Undergraduate Student Research Presentation Awards.

14. Publications • Kappa Omicron Nu FORUM – peer- reviewed journal. • Kappa Omicron Nu Dialogue – Substantive newsletter. • Kappa Omicron Nu Chapter Newsletter. • Kappa Omicron Nu Spotlight. • Collegiate Member Newsletter • Undergraduate Research Journal for the Human Sciences.

15. National Office • The Executive Director and staff coordinate and expedite the work of the Board of Directors, Assembly of Delegates, and national committees. • Administers the internal affairs of the society relating to membership, finances, records, and supplies. • Manages the publications of the Society. • Provides Web site resources: www.kon.org.

16. What’s Next after Chapter Participation • Although the focus for the most part is on undergraduate and graduate students, Kappa Omicron Nu continues to offer professional development opportunities through national workshops, online courses, Web resources, and publishing. • Networking at professional meetings – AAFCS and ADA.