May 09, 2012
Honor society emphasizes career development
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Southern Illinois University Carbondale recently welcomed a new academic honor society to campus.
More than 300 students have already joined the Sigma Epsilon chapter of Delta Epsilon Iota Academic Honor Society, a career development-centered student organization.
The organization began at the University of Georgia in 1994. SIU Carbondale is the first Illinois university to charter a chapter.
The idea to bring a chapter to SIU Carbondale began two years ago, when Michelle Garrett, recruitment coordinator in the University’s Career Services, first heard about Delta Epsilon Iota and believed the honor society would provide good opportunities for SIU Carbondale students.
“Our hope is to use this chapter as a way to prepare students for their careers post-graduation as well as to have members become ambassadors for Career Services, and as advocates for SIU Carbondale,” Jaime Conley-Holt, career development coordinator for Career Services, said. “We are so excited to begin meeting with our new members, and to start planning for the coming semesters.”
Eligible students must hold a minimum grade point average of 3.30, and have completed a minimum of 30 credit hours. The society is geared to academic excellence within a career development context. Benefits for members, besides the professional networking opportunities that are part of most academic honor societies, include access to Delta Epsilon Iota scholarships and awards, online discussions pertaining to specific points of career development, and social events.
Approximately 75 students attended a welcome reception for new members at the end of April. For more information about joining the SIU Carbondale chapter of the national organization, contact Jaime Conley-Holt at 618/453-1036 or at jbcholt@siu.edu.