Welcome to the Sigma Beta Delta (SBD) Honor Society chapter at the University of Arizona Global Campus! SBD is an academic honor society recognizing high achieving students in business, management, and administration. The mission of Sigma Beta Delta is to encourage and recognize scholarship and accomplishment, to encourage and promote aspirations toward personal and professional improvement, and to live a life distinguished by honorable service to humankind. Sigma Beta Delta was established to honor students who have attained superior records in business programs in schools and colleges with institutional accreditation.
History
Meaning
Membership Criteria
Member Privileges
Contact Information
Building the Future
Wisdom... Honor... Aspirations
History
Sigma Beta Delta traces its beginnings to June 19, 1986, where, at a Beta Gamma Sigma Long-Range Planning Committee meeting in Williamsburg, Virginia, the decision was made to thoroughly examine its relationships with schools that had institutional accreditation, but not specialized accreditation in business. In subsequent discussions, Beta Gamma Sigma leaders acknowledged that the business honor society is a vital participant and positive force in higher education, and should be available to all institutionally accredited baccalaureate institutions.
The culmination of the discussions was a decision by the Beta Gamma Sigma Board of Governors in January 1994 to establish Sigma Beta Delta. Seven founding chapters were established early in 1994. They included: Belmont University, Houston Baptist University, McKendree College, Morehouse College, North Carolina State University, Saint Leo College and Southern University. By the end of the chartering period, June 30, 1995, an additional 54 charter chapters had been installed for a total of 61 founding and charter chapters. Today, over 400 chapters have been established in 4states and internationally and over 80,000 members have been inducted to honor their high academic achievement in business, management, and administration.
The creation of Sigma Beta Delta follows a 200-year tradition of honoring scholastic achievement in higher education, beginning with the establishment of Phi Beta Kappa honor society in Williamsburg, Virginia, in 1776.
Sigma Beta Delta (n.d.) Retrieved January 7, 2016 from http://sigmabetadelta.org/
Meaning
Sigma is the initial letter of the Greek word ΣΟΦΙΑ, which means wisdom. Wisdom is knowledge gained over time, analyzed and used with discernment. Wisdom is not merely information, but allows one to acknowledge information, consider its validity and relevance, and then incorporate into one’s own life what is appropriate.
Beta is the initial letter of the Greek word ΒΕΒΑΟΣ, which signifies honor. Honor is a personal quality of the highest value. Honorable persons are held in esteem, considered to be trustworthy, and admired by others because they live a life that is worthy of such recognition. Honorable persons have chosen to live a life that is bound by integrity and ethical decision-making. They respect others and are willing to provide leadership to the benefit of humankind.
Delta is the initial letter of the Greek word ΔΙΩΚΩ, which signifies the pursuit of meaningful aspirations. Persons of wisdom and honor must aspire to a course to achieve their objectives, for goals without action are no more fulfilling than action without goals. To aspire toward the fulfillment of one’s goals to serve humankind and develop personally and professionally will lead to a life of meaning and satisfaction.
Membership Criteria
Membership in Sigma Beta Delta Honor Society is by invitation only and open to eligible UAGC students.
To qualify for membership in Sigma Beta Delta, students must meet the following criteria as of January 1 and July 1. Membership drives run from January 1 to April 1 and July 1 to September 15:
- Be enrolled in the Forbes School of Business and Technology®.
- Be in Junior, Senior, or Graduate status.
- Be in the top 20% of your class.
Member Privileges
Through Sigma Beta Delta Headquarters:
Each new member receives a membership certificate, a lapel pin, a decal and a current issue of the Sigma Beta Delta newsletter, “Aspirations.”
Acknowledgement for Federal Employment: Because Sigma Beta Delta is a member of the Association of College Honor Societies; your membership meets one of the requirements of the GS-7 level of federal employment. Note that per Sigma Beta Delta, most employees enter federal employment at the GS-5 level or lower and citation on the application is required for acknowledgement of the honor society membership.
You will also receive recognition for your achievements and your potential. Your resume can list this honor society membership and provide distinction for you. To see a full list of the benefits of being a member, check out the About Us page of the Sigma Beta Delta website!
Through the University of Arizona Global Campus:
Any Sigma Beta Delta member who participates in the University of Arizona Global Campus commencement ceremony will be distinguished as a Sigma Beta Delta member by wearing Sigma Beta Delta regalia. Induction must be completed at least one week prior to commencement in order to receive regalia.
Contact Information
For general inquiries: [email protected]
Sigma Beta Delta Chapter President
Sigma Beta Delta Chapter Vice President
Sigma Beta Delta Faculty Advisor